Recognizing and Referring Students with Addictions: Impact on Learning

Presented By:

Brian VanBrunt, Counseling & Testing Center

Introduction

Over 1,400 students ages 18 to 24 die from alcohol related unintentional injuries
including motor vehicle Crashes. 500,000 students ages 18 to 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of
alcohol.

More than 600,000 students ages 18 to 24 are assaulted by another student who has
been drinking.

What are addictions?

Addiction is a compulsion which perpetuates itself. It can pertain to a substance
or an activity. Some of the substances and/or activities that are considered addictions
are; alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, sex, overeating, and smoking.

Some in the medical field disagree on what constitutes an addiction. With some, the
term “addiction” means to have an escalating and ongoing problem with drugs and/or
alcohol. However, addiction can also be applied to compulsive behaviors other than
drug use, such as overeating or gambling. In any of these examples, addiction means
having a chronic pattern of behavior that continues despite the direct or indirect
adverse consequences that result from engaging in the behavior. It is quite common
for an addict to express the desire to stop the behavior, but find himself or herself
unable to cease.